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Government Poverty-Fighting Programs Fail Poor

Allow Private Enterprise Services To Fill Gaps: NCPA

August 09, 2011

(DALLAS) — Poorly designed government regulations are blocking many private sector assistance options that could provide essential services to the poor almost immediately, according to a new report from the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).

The report, by a task force of experts, examines five essential services: transportation, child care, security, housing and health care.

“Residents understand the problems in their own communities. Local entrepreneurs should be allowed to provide better service solutions at lower costs, as well as new products and services tailored to the community needs,” said NCPA Senior Fellow and report editor Roger Koppl. Too many one-size-fits-all regulations are stifling innovative ideas that improve quality of life in low-income areas where they’re needed most.”

Former Delaware Governor and NCPA Board Chairman Pete du Pont has noted that enterprise programs can “create job opportunities for those who face the greatest barriers to employment.”

“This report suggests an approach that doesn’t require a massive spending program; in fact it uses private sector capital and talent,” added du Pont. “It does not require top-down direction from Washington; it can be implemented locally, by citizens, public officials and businesses working in concert.”

“Especially at this time of national and local debt crisis, government regulations are a poor substitute for the marketplace,” said Koppl about the concept of Enterprise Programs. “The best thing we could do right now is allow local entrepreneurs to create and compete. We should remove obstacles preventing innovative entrepreneurs from better serving poorer Americans. Invention, innovation and entrepreneurialism brought us cell phones. Market competition then made them cheap, slim and smart. Let’s stop obstructing access for poorer Americans to that same powerful source of better products, better services, and better ideas.”